Providing keyboard shortcuts mapped to a keyboard

Abstract

Example embodiments relate to the provision of keyboard shortcuts that are mapped to a physical keyboard. In example embodiments, a user interface including a plurality of selectable UI elements is outputted. A plurality of keyboard shortcuts may then be outputted, such that each keyboard shortcut corresponds to a key on a physical keyboard and the shortcuts are spatially arranged in a layout corresponding to a layout of the keyboard. A selection of a particular key may then be received and, in response, the UI element positioned at the location of the keyboard shortcut corresponding to the selected key may be activated.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A computing device for providing keyboard shortcuts, the computing device comprising:
 a processor to:
 display a user interface (UI) including a plurality of selectable UI elements, 
 display a plurality of keyboard shortcuts on the user interface, wherein each keyboard shortcut corresponds to a respective key on a physical keyboard and the plurality of keyboard shortcuts are spatially arranged in a layout corresponding to a layout of the physical keyboard, 
 receive a selection of a particular key on the physical keyboard, and 
 activate the selectable UI element positioned at a location of the keyboard shortcut corresponding to the selected key. 
   
     
     
         2 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the UI elements are touch interface elements selectable based on receipt of a touch command, and   the processor is additionally to trigger a touch event upon receipt of the selection of the particular key.   
     
     
         3 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is additionally to:
 toggle between a first mode and a second mode in response to user selection of a shortcut toggle key, wherein the keyboard shortcuts are displayed in the first mode and not displayed in the second mode.   
     
     
         4 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is additionally to:
 identify the plurality of selectable UI elements in the user interface prior to display of the keyboard shortcuts, and   assign a keyboard shortcut to each UI element based on a position of the UI element within the user interface.   
     
     
         5 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein, to display the plurality of keyboard shortcuts, the processor is configured to:
 display the keyboard shortcuts in a plurality of rows and columns, wherein the rows and columns of the keyboard shortcuts respectively correspond to rows and columns of the physical keyboard.   
     
     
         6 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein, to display the plurality of keyboard shortcuts, the processor is configured to:
 divide the user interface into a plurality of regions, and   display keyboard shortcuts within each of the plurality of regions, wherein the shortcuts in each region are spatially mapped to the layout of the physical keyboard.   
     
     
         7 . The computing device of  claim 6 , wherein the processor is additionally to:
 receive a selection of a region selection key in addition to the selection of the particular key, the region selection key specifying in which region to activate the keyboard shortcut corresponding to the selected key.   
     
     
         8 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein, to display the plurality of keyboard shortcuts, the processor is configured to:
 perform a touch function on the displayed user interface in response to user selection of a touch interface control key, wherein the touch function comprises zooming, scrolling, or flicking.   
     
     
         9 . A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium encoded with instructions executable by a processor of a computing device for providing keyboard shortcuts, the machine-readable storage medium comprising:
 instructions for displaying a plurality of keyboard shortcuts overlaid on a user interface including a plurality of selectable UI elements, wherein:
 each keyboard shortcut corresponds to a respective key on a physical keyboard, and 
 the plurality of keyboard shortcuts are arranged based on a physical arrangement of the keys on the physical keyboard; 
   instructions for receiving a selection of a particular key on the physical keyboard; and   instructions for activating the selectable UI element positioned at a location of the keyboard shortcut corresponding to the selected key.   
     
     
         10 . The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein:
 an operating system of the computing device comprises the instructions for displaying the keyboard shortcuts, and   the operating system further comprises:
 instructions for generating a touch event identifying a position of the selected keyboard shortcut within the user interface, and 
 instructions for providing the touch event to an application that displays the user interface. 
   
     
     
         11 . The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the instructions for displaying included in the operating system are configured to display the keyboard shortcuts in a plurality of rows and columns, and   the rows and columns of the keyboard shortcuts respectively correspond to rows and columns of the physical keyboard.   
     
     
         12 . The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the instructions for displaying the keyboard shortcuts are included in an application that displays the user interface,   each keyboard shortcut is pre-assigned to a corresponding UI element, and   the instructions for displaying are configured to display each keyboard shortcut at a position of the corresponding UI element.   
     
     
         13 . A method for providing keyboard shortcuts, the method comprising:
 displaying a touch user interface (UI) including a plurality of UI elements selectable by touch;   displaying a plurality of keyboard shortcuts on the touch user interface, wherein each of the plurality of keyboard shortcuts corresponds to a respective key on the physical keyboard and is positioned within the user interface according to a location of the corresponding key on the physical keyboard;   receiving a selection of a particular key on the physical keyboard; and   performing an action on the UI element positioned at a location of the particular keyboard shortcut corresponding to the selected key.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein displaying the keyboard shortcuts comprises:
 displaying the keyboard shortcuts in a plurality of rows and columns, wherein the rows and columns of the keyboard shortcuts respectively correspond to rows and columns of the physical keyboard.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein displaying the keyboard shortcuts comprises:
 dividing the user interface into a plurality of regions, and   displaying keyboard shortcuts within each of the plurality of regions, wherein the shortcuts in each region are spatially mapped to a layout of the physical keyboard.